3 challenge Cottrellville supervisor in recall election

Cottrellville Township Supervisor Kelly Fiscelli will face three challengers in the recall election for her seat in November.

Sitting trustee Matt Kovalcik, former deputy clerk Mary Agnes, and newcomer Dustin Roberts have filed the necessary paperwork to run for the job. The filing deadline was 4 p.m. Monday.

State law has changed from voters getting to vote yes or no on recalling an official to choosing who they want to complete the official’s term.

The recall petition filed against Fiscelli in June said she was targeted for violating the Open Meetings Act in May 2013.

Fiscelli’s term runs through November 2016.

Kovalcik said if he is elected to supervisor in November, the board will have to appoint a new trustee. If he loses in the recall election, he will retain his seat as trustee.

Kovalcik said he filed to run for supervisor in the recall election because he “just wanted to help.”

He filled in as the township board meeting moderator and handled some of those responsibilities while Fiscelli was in jail on a drunken driving conviction.

“I have no personal agenda,” he said. “I’d like to see us in a more positive light. When we make the front page ... it generally tends to be negative.”

Simons has said she wants to bring integrity back to the board.

Roberts and Fiscelli did not return phone calls for comment Monday.

Who will serve as township supervisor will not be the only item awaiting Cottrellville voters in November.

Clerk Lori Russelburg is also facing a recall. The recall against Russelburg states she “has not been paying township bills on time, incurring penalties and finance charges.” Challengers have 10 days to file necessary paperwork with the county clerk to be on the ballot.

No on had filed as of Monday afternoon.

Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @lvshepard.